Leis, The fifth ballot

In May of 2004 we should not only vote for four candidates (president, legislator, mayor and representante), but also a fifth candidate with no face, name, surname, or political party but which, on the other hand, can help us to jointly and democratically transform Panama: the Political Constitution of the Republic. According to data from the month of August that are the product of a national poll conducted by Latinetwork Dichter & Neira, especially for the Panama 2020 Forum, two out of every three people advocate a constitutional change, whether through reform to the present constitution or the elaboration of a new Magna Carta.

Overwhelmingly, some 86 percent of those who take this stand prefer the election of a Constituent Assembly by popular vote as the means to accomplish this change, followed by some 11 percent who opt to go by the methods established in the present constitution. This Constituent Assembly --- according to 89 percent --- should be convened by popular will by way of a referendum included in the May 2004 elections, that is, by using a fifth ballot. The constitutional changes must be broad and deep, embracing all three branches of government --- the executive, legislative and judicial --- and other key aspects.

It couldn't be clearer and now is the time for decisions. The opinion and sentiment of the citizenry are imperative, especially to make the changes now that permit the inclusion of this fifth ballot in next May's elections. In keeping with their campaign pledges, the political parties must listen to this civic demand that can no longer be postponed and moreover would exalt the celebration of the Republic's first centennial.

There are now on the table various proposals for constitutional changes that would serve as a basis for the process, but the most recent, and the consensus of many sectors of the nation, is the hundred outlines for change presented by the Panama 2020 Forum. The proposal contemplates elements to improve participatory democracy, rise above centralism and authoritarianism, and affirm the rule of law and transparency.

The poll, moreover, reaffirms that the majority of those surveyed find the lack of morality and corruption in Panama both in the public sphere and in the private sphere. That is, it's not only a problem that affects the government. Fundamentally, what has happened is that corruption has accomplished its purpose because three factors exist. The first is systemic, as there are gaps and cracks in public and private institutions which are growing and extending like a cancer. Second, there is the subjective factor expressed in individuals or persons who incarnate anti-values. Third, there is the existence of a culture of normality and indifference that allows civic apathy, which leads to the misuses of power being seen as "normal." Thus, the opinion of those surveyed centers on combating corruption through such prevention as education and consciousness raising as well as by exemplary punishment to combat impunity.

Most people place a high value on the electoral ethical pacts and it's very important to the majority of them that the commitments of the signatories --- the political parties and the candidates --- be honored by their compliance. That is, they demand that signed commitments should not be overlooked, but rather should be carried out in letter and spirit.

In the poll, the most important values are peace, honesty and respect, followed by many others. This recognition of peace possibly stems from the environment of violence that scourges society, not to speak of external wars and confrontations (like the recent one in Iraq) that has jolted public opinion in favor of peace.

The majority recognize the great necessity of having a plan or system of integrity, which allows the creation of a strong network of prevention and punishment woven into all sectors and planes of national life. They say that the principal promoters of this plan must be all the national sectors, followed by the family, the communications media, the schools and the churches.

Society must demand that the candidates and political forces undertake in every respect the commitment to create --- with civic participation --- this plan, and to push it with determination. Moreover, by a large majority the people recognize that it's important to have a yardstick, that is, a permanent instrument that measures the advance or retreat of national development and that allows them not only to know but to influence the march of events in government and society.

All of this supposes the necessity of reconceiving the present development model, checking the exclusion and inequality that characterizes it through the construction of a model that's inclusive, equitable and centered on human beings.

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opinion

It's time! The fifth candidate